Prevalência de obesidade geral e central na população adulta na cidade de Tubarão, Santa Catarina: um estudo de base populacional

Abstract

AAIMS: To estimate the prevalence of overall and central obesity, and associated factors in adults in southern Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among adults living in Tubarao, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, between November 2011 and June 2012. Participants were interviewed, and anthropometric measurements were taken. The interview assessed socio-demographic data, levels of physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, dietary habits and clinical data. The association between the variables of interest was tested using Pearson's Chi-square; Student t-test was used to compare means, and agreement between both types of obesity was assessed using Kappa statistics. Modified Poisson's regression analysis was performed including variables with p less than 0.2 as well as variables selected through literature review. RESULTS: We studied 371 adult patients (mean age 40.5±12.3 years; 63.9% women). Overall obesity prevalence was 23.1% for men and 29.1% for women (no statistical difference between them). Waist circumference measurement revealed that 24.6% of men and 43.5% of women had central obesity. Kappa value for the agreement between central and overall obesity was 0.7 (good level of agreement). Non-obese participants showed an average of 4.3 healthy feeding steps versus 3.7 steps of subjects with central and overall obesity (respectively p 0.002). Regarding overall obesity, there was an independent association with younger age, family history of obesity and use of diet pills. Regarding central obesity, there was an independent association with female gender, older age, stable marital relationship, family history of obesity, and use of diet pills. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overall obesity was 26.9%, and the associated factors were older age, genetic predisposition, and diet pills. The prevalence of central obesity was 36.7%, and the associated factors were female gender, older age, and stable marital relationship. There was a good agreement between central and overall obesity. A healthy diet was a protective factor for obesity. The use of diet pills was associated to both types of obesity.